Chapter 6:
Magnus REALLY Is Quite Magical…
Summery:
Ezekiel tells Jenkins and Cassie about this crazy psychic detective 'Magnus Bane'
Meanwhile, Raphael is reaching his limit at the convention
_Other-Other-Other-Other-Other_
Oh man, he screwed up SO bad…
He couldn't believe he blurted out the entire mission to Magnus,
He usually had a cool head and was pretty unshakable, but the guy seemed to know exactly how to push him to get him off his game.
Also the psychic thing kinda freaked him out…
He really wasn't sure what to make of it.
Magnus hadn't known about the other universe/magic thing, but he seemed to know about everything else.
He'd known Jake and him had worked together for years,
About his past, both the illegal and classified parts
About Jakes History and Arts degrees
He seemed to be able to tell before someone even opened their mouth if they were going to be lying or not.
It was unsettling…
After the initial reveal they'd just tried explaining it in a way that sounded less insane…
They'd explained about the Librarians and the Library
About magic and other universes
About the artifacts they were searching for and what they knew about the warlock (Which was basically that they were obsessed with attaining power and probably had a bit of an inferiority complex)
They'd concluded asking him to keep this from his team as they didn't really know what effect the knowledge of real magic would have on this universe…
It didn't go too well and Ezekiel thought he was just humoring them,
Thinking they were affected by the artifact.
Ezekiel didn't need any psychic powers to know he wasn't going to keep it all a secret,
However, if he really thought they were affected and delusional, then the others may think that as well…
Hopefully that'd be all the cover they needed
Still, they really needed to tell Jenkins, he might know if that would be enough
This was not gonna be a fun conversation…
Jake had actually been rather nice about it…after his initial annoyance at his slip up.
He'd even offered to split the blame, so it wouldn't all fall on him
Ezekiel had waived him off;
The offer was really sweet, but this was his screw up and he needed to face up to it…
What? He was trying something new
He took a deep breath before hitting the button to call Cassie and Jenkins.
"Hey guys! Did you find something already? That was quick…
I knew you could do it" she said cheerfully
"Uhh…no, not exactly…
I kinda had a hypothetical question for Jenkins?" he hedged
Jenkins groaned shaking his head
"What did you do?" he asked deadpan
"Okay, uh…so theoretically what effect would it have if someone from this universe maybe kinda found out who we were and why we're here?"
"What? How would that happen? Who would guess anything this crazy?" Cassie asked confused
"W-well…it IS a scifi convention, some of the people are really imaginative and creative and it almost sounds like a show or comic book plot or something, it's not that big of a leap…
Also, I may have kind of…told him."
"You what! How much of it!?"
"Uhh…like all of it"
"Why would you do that!?"
"He tricked me!"
"How did someone trick you into telling them everything?"
"Oh, it's that psychic guy I asked you about…
He could tell we were lying and he called us out on it.
Then he ran down everything he knew, which was really an uncomfortable amount
He knew we weren't PI's, he knew we worked together, about my past and Jakes degrees and a bunch of other stuff and it was creepy and it threw me…
He seems to be able to read everything and he is working with the police investigating the case, and it's like he can tell before someone even starts talking if they're going to be lying or not and he kept calling me out about it and it was really annoying because he kept interrupting me to say I was lying and to try again
And he just seemed to think it was funny to make a game of seeing how annoyed he could get me
So I finally just kind of blurted it out before I realized it…"
He trailed off sheepishly shrugging
Jake leaned forward into frame, shaking his head slightly
"Jenkins it really wasn't Ezekiel's fault; this guy really is something else.
It was creepy how much he knew, I kinda think the psychic thing must be true, because I couldn't see another way he'd know all that…
If that's the case then he'd probably have been able to piece together most of it, anyways.
Also, he is working the case, and he still agreed to collaborate with us on it;
I think he's convinced we're actually affected, somehow convinced of our own lies.
I think we may be able to use that, if we can keep him thinking that then maybe he'll just chalk up the entire crazy magic/alternate universe thing to a delusion and leave it at that…"
Jenkins shook his head slightly
"We can only hope Mr. Stone…I don't know what affect the knowledge would have on that world, and we probably don't want to find out."
Jake and Ezekiel nodded
Ezekiel grinned
"Hey, at least it had one good effect…
It actually threw that smug, obnoxious 'Magnus Bane' off his game; I get the feeling that doesn't happen a lot"
"Wait, wait, wait; Magnus Bane?!" Jenkins demanded, suddenly looking far more alarmed
"Uhh…yeah? That's the psychic's name. Why, does it mean something?"
Jenkins truly looked nervous now
That was not good, Jenkins never looked nervous
"Okay, listen; you guys need to be VERY careful from here on out.
Do not anger him and, for god's sakes, do NOT confront him about anything…do you understand?"
"Jenkins what's-" Ezekiel began
"Magnus Bane is one of, if not the most, powerful warlocks in our universe"
"Well, I mean this can't be him though right? We're in a totally different universe, and if he's that powerful you'd of spotted his magic signature or whatever, right?
This must be the Magnus from this world…
Which, isn't any less weird" Ezekiel finished, somewhat confused
"I don't know; I said there were only a few artifacts that could traverse universes, but there are also a few extremely powerful beings that are said to be able to;
Though there's no proof it is widely believed that Magnus has this ability and he is easily one of the most powerful…
If he can do that, covering his magic signature would be nothing,
Especially if he knew you were Librarians and didn't want you aware of his presence…"
Ezekiel got a bit of a chill at that
"Uhh…w-why would he not want us to know? You said the warlock we're chasing isn't really powerful, like, at all. Do you think this Magnus may be covering for him or something?"
"It may be possible, but probably not. He may be somewhat protective of other Warlock, High Warlocks tend to be,-"
"He's a High Warlock!?"
"Yes, he is the High Warlock of Brooklyn; however I doubt he'd pay too much mind to a warlock that had to stoop to using artifacts for additional power.
That being said Magnus Bane has a bit of a…history with Librarians…"
"That doesn't sound promising" Jake muttered
"No, it really isn't. As I said, Magnus is one of the most powerful beings in our universe…
Over the centuries there have been Librarians who have thought him to be too great of a threat, too powerful and set about targeting him.
Every Librarian who's gone after him has not returned…
No trace of them is ever found"
"Well, that's not ominous at all…" Ezekiel sniped,
"So, how did you guys end up meeting him anyways?" Cassie asked, concerned
Jake glanced over at Ezekiel
"Umm…I met him first" He said somewhat nervously
"Okay, how did that happen?" Jenkins prodded
"He…kinda snuck up on me in a creepy deserted room and started to tease/question me
He seemed like it was a game, but there's something about his gaze that's just disconcerting, like he's taking in way more than he should be able to…
I actually half wondered if he had the artifact on him because it just didn't seem like a hot guy in sparkles, pink, and makeup should be able to pull off intimidating so well…"
"You think he's hot?" Jake interjected
Ezekiel rolled his eyes
"Really, that's what you're focusing on?"
"I just didn't know"
"Oh, so do you, don't even try to lie, and an-"
"Uhh…guys? Can we debate the attractiveness of the Psychic/possible High Warlock at another time…?
Like maybe when we find out if he's actually trying to set some kind of trap or something for you?" Cassie interjected
They both paused guiltily before turning back to the actual conversation at hand
"So, how has he been acting around you guys?" Jenkins continued
Ezekiel shrugged
"I don't know, he seems fairly friendly, he's chatty and jokes. He laughs a lot…at me
Which is kind of annoying
He seems to have taken to teasing me and he either really likes using terms of endearment like Sweetheart and Darling or he just likes how much it annoys me when he calls me that…I really don't know which-"
"Wait, he called you 'sweetheart'?" Cassie interrupted trying to cover a bit of a laugh
"Calls. He does it a lot, it's annoying" Ezekiel grumbled
"I kinda get the feeling he likes Ezekiel" Jake interjects
"No, he likes annoying me…he thinks I'm 'fun'" Ezekiel corrected, complete with air quotes
"Well, I don't know if it's Magnus from that universe or the one from ours, but either way, proceed with caution…
I don't think it was a coincidence that he is involved, even with our work it would just be a bit of a stretch.
Keep an eye on him, but also keep your wits about you
He might be just having a bit of fun now, but if this Magnus is, in fact The High Warlock of Brooklyn, that could turn quite quickly."
Ezekiel gulped slightly
How was it plain normal Obnoxious Psychic Detective was the preferred option?
_Raphael-Raphael-Raphael-Raphael-Raphael_
"Oh, hey look at this!" Simon said excitedly dragging Raphael to yet another booth for yet another show…
He sighed
Simon was still so happy about the event and it was adorable…
But two days of the nonstop crowds was beginning to wear a bit thin.
He just was not used to this
Generally he'd avoid things like this event…it was just too much
Too many people
Too much idiocy and ridiculousness
Too much noise
Too much chaos
Yesterday he'd been able to just focus on Simon, but now that there was the possibility that it was an actual case he had to really take in all the rest of the people.
Try to spot what was unusual, what didn't fit…
So far the only thing he saw that didn't fit here was himself
Simon seemed to be in his element; happily bouncing around, chatting with people like they were old friends, laughing and socializing like it was nothing.
And, Raphael supposed, for Simon, it wasn't
He was another story…
He'd never been too fond of large crowds
Raphael was fine with people one on one or in smaller groups, but with this many, he just didn't really know how to act
When that happen he tended to get irritated and snappy, and he really didn't want to do that to Simon
Simon was just so happy and he didn't want to spoil it for him…
It was okay, he could cover well
"-hael, did you hear me?"
Raphael startled slightly, glancing over at Simon
"What, amor?"
Simon was staring at him, he looked somewhat concerned
"I was talking about…you know what, it wasn't really important.
Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine…where did you want to go next?"
Simon seemed to think for a moment, before getting a slightly playful smile, intertwining their fingers and tugging him along in some random direction
He led him around the edges of the event, and a bit down a hallway,
"Simon where are we going?" he asked curiously
Simon just shrugged, and kept tugging him along
Raphael chuckled but followed rather curious
He tried a few doors before he found one that was unlocked. Opening it and quickly pulling Raphael in, before closing the door behind them.
"Where are we?" Raphael asked glancing at him
Simon shrugged again
"I don't know, but there's no crowds and it's quiet…I figured you could use a break."
Raphael chuckled slipping his arm around his wonderful, incredible, adorable boyfriend…
Really how did he ever get so lucky?
"Thank you, amor" he murmured softly as they wandered further into the room.
It was rather dark and fairly large. He got the feeling it was the storage room for when the hall held plays and the like…
There were racks upon racks of costumes, a few set pieces and props strewn about
"It's no problem…
I wish you'd of told me it was bothering you"
Simon said reaching down and taking his hand again, leaning a bit closer to Raphael
"I know, I should've, sorry, I didn't want to spoil your fun. I'm just not used to that big of crowds for that long; it was all a bit much"
Simon nodded
"You know, you've been amazing about this…
I know these last two days I've been going pretty overboard, sorry if it was too much"
Raphael shook his head quickly
"No, amor, you weren't. You never are…
Hell, focusing on you was what made it tolerable in the first place"
Simon blushed, giving him a soft warm smile
"Yeah?"
Raphael nodded, tugging him a bit closer,
"Definitely"
Simon nodded, before turning and slipping his arms around Raphael, tugging him close
"Good" he murmured before leaning in and kissing him softly
Raphael hummed happily, deepening the kiss
Simon tugs him closer
Raphael breaks the kiss trailing kisses along his jaw and pressing one just behind Simon's ear which made him gasp slightly
He kissed lightly down his neck, pausing to nip slightly at a spot, causing Simon to jump slightly then give a somewhat breathless almost giggle
Raphael hums again
Suddenly the door slams open
"You're not getting out of this, where the hell is Nick?" a deep voice demanded
"That's really none of your concern"
"Yeah it is, you were the last person he was talking to" Another voice added
Raphael and Simon Startle, ducking further behind the rack of costumes they'd ended up behind, remaining out of sight of the newcomers
They peer cautiously around to get a view of the arguing men
There were four men altogether
The one Raphael recognized as Lidan, the man who hired them…
The other three seemed to be confronting him
"Look Campbell, I don't know what you're playing at, but you better drop the act and tell us where he is"
Lidan gave a rather unsettling smile
"Nick is fine…he left a while ago to head home, you must have just missed him"
The other three looked a bit dazed for a moment before shaking their heads, seemingly snapping out of it
"No he didn't…you're the last person who was with him.
He left with YOU and he never came back"
Lidan looked annoyed for a moment, before shrugging, and giving that same, rather unsettling smile
He stepped closer to the other men
"Very well…I really didn't want to do this, but I suppose you should have something I could use"
"What are you ta-" one of the men started but stopped mid sentence in shock
Lidan raises his hand, brilliant orange sparks erupt and the other three disappeared in a cloud of red and orange smoke
Beside Raphael, Simon gasps…
Lidan freezes, then turns facing where they are hiding, he gives that same, somewhat deranged smile, and raises his hand…
The last thing Raphael is conscious of is pulling Simon close, trying to shield him as the heavy red and orange cloud envelopes them…
_End Of Chapter Notes_
Don't freak, they're fine
I swear I have a fix for everything
Anyways,
What do you guys think so far?
